Queen Elizabeth Appoints New UK Ambassador To China

Career diplomat Caroline Wilson has been appointed as Queen Elizabeth’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, replacing Dame Barbara Woodward DCMG OBE.

A fluent Mandarin speaker having completed Mandarin training at the Beijing Normal University before accepting her first overseas role in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the same city from 1997 – 2000, Ms. Wilson was initially a barrister.

Her posts since leaving Beijing in 2000 have included time spent in Brussels, London, Moscow and more recently in Hong Kong and Macao between 2012 and 2016 where she served as Her Majesty’s Consul General to Hong Kong and Macao.

Ms. Wilson’s Chinese name is reportedly 吴若兰, and it is understood she will take her post from September when her predecessor’s time in China comes to an end.

Speaking of the appointment, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said “This is an important juncture in the UK’s relationship with China, with both opportunities and challenges. Caroline is an outstanding diplomat, who will help us navigate the path ahead.”

Ms. Wilson herself said : It is an incredible opportunity to be asked to represent the UK in China at this critical time. As major economies and leading members of the global community, the UK and China must continue to work together to develop our partnership. I look forward to returning to China to take the relationship forward.”

Mark Buckton

Mark is a journalism vet of 20 years with most of those years spent in Tokyo, Japan, as a columnist for The Japan Times and numerous other publications. His work has appeared on CNN, in the BBC, NPR, and in several dozen other media forms and publications across five continents.